Former AG Holder headlining Virginia Dems' dinner

Former Attorney General Eric Holder will headline the Democratic Party of Virginia's annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, which will be held in Richmond a few days after the June 13 primary elections.

Holder, who served under President Barack Obama, is now chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee which, among other things, is coordinating a push to win state legislative seats ahead of the next census. That census will be followed in 2021 by a redrawing of state legislative, and congressional maps, a process that can be used to help lock in majorities and, thus, power.

Democrats got clobbered by a similar Republican effort ahead of the 2011 redraw, and they've been filing lawsuits in multiples states - including Virginia - in an effort to undo what they see as unfair GOP gerrymanders.

In a statement released by the state party, Holder said Virginia's 2017 elections, for statewide offices as well as House of Delegates seats, are "a top priority." Of course, since Virginia is the rare state with major off-year elections, there aren't too many other priorities available this year.

The dinner is Saturday, June 17, at the downtown Richmond Marriott. On the Tuesday before, voters will go to the polls choosing, among other things in the primary elections, between Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam and former U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello, the Democratic candidates for governor.

More information about the dinner, and tickets starting at $150 a person, are available at vademocrats.org/jj.